# Viking cruise through Greece and Türkiye

> Viking Vesta's 8-day Mediterranean cruise explored ancient ruins, medieval fortresses and Istanbul's hidden gems.
- Title: Viking cruise through Greece and Türkiye · Woman's World
- Summary: Viking Vesta's 8-day Mediterranean cruise explored ancient ruins, medieval fortresses and Istanbul's hidden gems. The Viking Vesta cruise visited Athens…
- Keywords: viking vesta, ancient mediterranean treasures, athens, crete, rhodes, ephesus, troy, istambul, topkapı palace, turkish food, basilica cistern, Viking
- Source: Woman's World — https://womansworld.com/life/i-took-a-viking-mediterranean-cruise-my-favorite-stops
- Author: Liz Vaccariello
- Published: 2026-10-23T23:00:30+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: viking vesta, ancient mediterranean treasures, athens, crete, rhodes, ephesus, troy, istambul, topkapı palace, turkish food, basilica cistern
## Athens: Ancient treasures
The trip began in Athens, where the Acropolis and Parthenon rise above a sprawling modern city.
## Crete: Historic monasteries
In Heraklion, we left the coast for the Cretan countryside and Kera Monastery, a fortified stone monastery on the northern slopes of Mount Dikti.
## Rhodes: Medieval marvels
Rhodes offered a completely different period of history with its medieval city remaining after the Knights of Saint John conquered the island in the 14th century.
## Istanbul: East meets West
Our approach to Istanbul was part of the experience as we sailed through the Bosphorus Strait, separating Europe and Asia.
## Ephesus: The past preserved
Our next stop in Türkiye was Ephesus, where we walked through ancient streets and buildings including the Library of Celsus and the Great Theatre.
## Troy: Legends
From Çanakkale, we traveled to Troy, where excavations revealed multiple settlements built over thousands of years.
## Our #1: The Basilica Cistern
Not far from Hagia Sophia, we descended into the Basilica Cistern, a vast underground reservoir with 336 marble columns.
## Aboard Viking Vesta
The Viking Vesta was launched in 2025 and carries 998 guests, making it much smaller than today’s mega cruise ships.
## Viking Ocean Cruises
Viking Ocean Cruises’ Ancient Mediterranean Treasures is an eight-day voyage through Greece and Türkiye that took us from Athens to Crete, Rhodes, Ephesus and Troy before ending in Istanbul.
## Key takeaway

The Viking Vesta cruise visited Athens, Crete, Rhodes, Ephesus, Troy and Istanbul, ending with a two-night extension to explore Topkapı Palace and Turkish food.